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National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 (NLSY79)

Standard Errors & Design Effects

This section contains information on standard errors and design effects for the NLSY79 sample, briefly discussing how to use these two statistical factors. It then includes tables for the first round and for 1996 through 2020. Users interested in the intervening years should review the Technical Sampling Report and Technical Sampling Report Addendum.

Standard errors have been explicitly computed for a number of statistics based upon the entire NLSY79 sample (total, civilian, and military) and a number of sex or race subclasses. Standard errors for other statistics (defined over the entire sample or the subclasses) may be approximated with use of the DEFT factors given in the linked tables. Users who examine the tables will note that CHRR has calculated standard errors for different variables over time. The R program that computed the Standard Errors and Design Effects for survey year 2020 can be accessed in the document NLSY79 Design Effects R Program.docx.

Approximate standard errors: Percentages

The following formula approximates a standard error of a percentage:

se(P) approximately equal to DEFT times √P(100-P) divided by √n

where
se(P) = the approximate standard error for the percentage of P
P = the sample percentage (ranging from 0 to 100)
n = the actual unweighted sample size for the demographic subclass from which the percentage was developed
DEFT = the appropriate DEFT factor for the particular demographic subclass and sample type from which the percentage was developed

For example, for 1996 the appropriate DEFT factor for estimating a standard error of the percentage of Hispanic or Latino males who were high school dropouts is 1.17744 (see proportion column, row seven of Table 2. Deft factors for round 17, 1996). Assuming the calculated sample (P) equals 22.19 percent and the unweighted sample estimate size is 946, then:

se(P) approximately equal to 1.17744 times √22.19(100-22.19) divided by √946

To approximate the standard error of the corresponding projected population total (NP/100), calculate:

se(NP divided by 100) approximately equal to N[se(P) divided by 100]

where
se(NP/100) = the approximate standard error of the projected population total corresponding to a percentage P within a particular demographic subclass and sample type
N = the appropriate projected total population base for the particular demographic subclass and sample type

For example, if the projected total population base for Hispanic or Latino males is 1,030,861, the projected number of civilian Hispanic or Latino male high school dropouts is equal to NP/100 or 1,030,861 * 22.19/100 = 228,748. Thus, the approximate standard error for the total number of Hispanic or Latino male high school dropouts is:

se(NP divided by 100) approximately equal to 1,030,861 times (1.5907 divided by 100) which is approximately 16,397.9

Note: 1.5907 came from the previous calculation.

Approximate standard errors: Means

One can compute approximate standard errors for means as follows:

se(X) approximately equal to DEFT times √(s squared divided by n)

where
se(X) = the approximate standard error of the mean
DEFT = the appropriate DEFT factor for the particular demographic subclass and sample type from which the mean was developed
S2 = the weighted element variance computed for the demographic subclass and sample type from which the mean was developed
n = the unweighted sample size for the particular mean

For example, for 1979 the DEFT factor for all Hispanics or Latinos is 1.45699 (see means column, row four of Table 1. Deft factors for round 1, 1979). To approximate the standard error of the mean number of years of education completed by this subclass, where the weighted element variance is .72955 and the sample size is 77, compute:

se(X) approximately equal to 1.45699 times √(.72955 divided by 77) which is approximately .1418

Design effects

Because the samples are multi-stage, stratified random samples instead of simple random samples, respondents tend to come in geographic clusters and clusters of persons tend to be alike in a variety of ways for a variety of reasons. (For more information on the sampling and screening process, users are referred to section on Sample Design & Screening Process in this guide.) For example, there may be cultural differences by locality or ecological differences in labor market conditions. Depending upon the degree of this homogeneity, the conventionally computed standard deviations for the variables, which assume a simple random sample, may be too small. However, by controlling the rate at which particular strata are sampled, multi-stage, stratified random samples can improve upon simple random samples. The ratio of the correct standard error to the standard error computed under the assumption of a simple random sample is known as the design effect. The technical sampling report for the NLSY79 (Frankel, Williams, and Spencer 1983) and its addendum (CHRR) provide design effects for the various strata.

A single design effect that can be broadly applied to regression analysis cannot be constructed. To illustrate the approximate size of design effects in regression analysis, a regression of rate of pay for the CPS job in 1979 was estimated using race, sex, marital status, and education as explanatory variables. Assuming each of the roughly 200 PSUs has the same number of respondents in the sample of 5,724 persons with observed wages, the design effect was calculated to be 1.52; that is, the true standard errors were larger than the naively computed standard errors by a factor of 1.52. When this exercise was repeated for rate of pay on the CPS job in 1986, the design effect had fallen to 1.37.

This reduction reflects the fact that mobility tends to mix the respondents more uniformly through the country, reducing the clustering of the sample. Many of the persons who started out in the same PSU will have moved to different areas and, hence, no longer share unobservable labor market conditions. These shared unobservable labor market conditions are likely responsible for the spatial correlation of the error terms which generate design effects. Thus, another advantage of longitudinal data is the lessening of design effects over time.

By examining the Geocode data for the NLSY79, it is possible to control for some of the environmental factors generating design effects or, if desired, to compute design effects based upon county or metropolitan area clusters which continue to be present. To facilitate study of design effects, scrambled PSU codes from the 1979 survey are available to persons with authorized access to the NLSY79 Geocode data.

The Technical Sampling Report and Technical Sampling Report Addendum also provide information on design effects.

Click below to view the DEFT and standard errors tables.

Table 1. Deft factors for round 1, 1979

Demographic Group

 Proportions Means

All Youth

 1.72547 1.71282

Males

 1.46605 1.56808

Females

 1.58029 1.49720

Hispanics or Latinos

 1.44342 1.45699

Blacks

 1.35303 1.43730

Non-black/non-Hispanics

 1.58686 1.56996

Hispanic or Latino Males

 1.24321 1.22329

Hispanic or Latino Females

 1.40353 1.25095

Black Males

 1.19457 1.21378

Black Females

 1.24877 1.25243

Non-black/non-Hispanic Males

 1.33775 1.45962

Non-black/non-Hispanic Females

 1.46889 1.37581
Table 2. Deft factors for round 17, 1996

Demographic Group

 Proportions Means

All Youth

 1.35848 1.967232

Males

 1.28523 1.667333

Females

 1.24536 1.621727

Hispanics or Latinos

 1.28275 1.584298

Blacks

 1.19735 1.423025

Non-black/non-Hispanics

 1.19087 1.713184

Hispanic or Latino Males

 1.17744 1.407125

Hispanic or Latino Females

 1.13217 1.264911

Black Males

 1.16541 1.174734

Black Females

 1.13258 1.319091

Non-black/non-Hispanic Males

 1.13217 1.456022

Non-black/non-Hispanic Females

 1.09545 1.405347
Table 3. Deft factors for round 18, 1998

Demographic Group

 Proportions Means

All Youth

 1.38301 1.96469

Males

 1.30836 1.66433

Females

 1.28311 1.60000

Hispanics or Latinos

 1.21917 1.52807

Blacks

 1.19164 1.40890

Non-black/non-Hispanics

 1.17937 1.67481

Hispanic or Latino Males

 1.19248 1.37659

Hispanic or Latino Females

 1.13418 1.25100

Black Males

 1.14336 1.12694

Black Females

 1.12088 1.31529

Non-black/non-Hispanic Males

 1.18195 1.43353

Non-black/non-Hispanic Females

 1.11028 1.37133
Table 4. Deft factors for round 19, 2000

Demographic Group

 Proportions Means

All Youth

 1.36423 1.90919

Males

 1.26007 1.61864

Females

 1.21244 1.58588

Hispanics or Latinos

 1.24544 1.48492

Blacks

 1.19954 1.42127

Non-black/non-Hispanics

 1.20052 1.62327

Hispanic or Latino Males

 1.19722 1.31909

Hispanic or Latino Females

 1.09240 1.22474

Black Males

 1.20277 1.18322

Black Females

 1.08282 1.34907

Non-black/non-Hispanic Males

 1.12750 1.39462

Non-black/non-Hispanic Females

 1.13908 1.34907
Table 5. Deft factors for round 20, 2002

Demographic Group

 Proportions Means

All Youth

 1.34578 1.82757

Males

 1.29701 1.58430

Females

 1.18181 1.52807

Hispanics or Latinos

 1.24097 1.47986

Blacks

 1.20692 1.35647

Non-black/non-Hispanics

 1.15085 1.56844

Hispanic or Latino Males

 1.12450 1.28841

Hispanic or Latino Females

 1.09479 1.21861

Black Males

 1.20830 1.12694

Black Females

 1.18743 1.33604

Non-black/non-Hispanic Males

 1.20468 1.37659

Non-black/non-Hispanic Females

 1.06829 1.30958

User note: Tables 6-14

Users are cautioned that the figures in the proportion column for the last six categories are becoming much less relevant over time. The proportion DEFT column is based on education, training, marriage, and employment variables. Over time categories, such as black females, have only a few respondents in school or training, which causes the DEFT factors to change from survey to survey. Broader categories, like "All Youth," "Males," and "Females" are more accurate to use.

Table 6. Deft factors for round 21, 2004

Demographic Group

 Proportions Means

All Youth

 1.38789 1.83712

Males

 1.27377 1.55563

Females

 1.23592 1.55081

Hispanics or Latinos

 1.30336 1.46969

Blacks

 1.14782 1.35831

Non-black/non-Hispanics

 1.18163 1.57003

Hispanic or Latino Males

 1.27083 1.31149

Hispanic or Latino Females

 1.12750 1.19164

Black Males

 1.14455 1.10454

Black Females

 1.02896 1.37113

Non-black/non-Hispanic Males

 1.09373 1.35647

Non-black/non-Hispanic Females

 1.08224 1.32098
Table 7. Deft factors for round 22, 2006

Demographic Group

 Proportions Means

All Youth

 1.35881 1.81246

Males

 1.23472 1.55563

Females

 1.25553 1.52315

Hispanics or Latinos

 1.13710 1.48661

Blacks

 1.15994 1.33041

Non-black/non-Hispanics

 1.14455 1.53460

Hispanic or Latino Males

 1.15195 1.31719

Hispanic or Latino Females

 1.00995 1.23085

Black Males

 1.15247 1.09772

Black Females

 1.11221 1.35647

Non-black/non-Hispanic Males

 1.09636 1.32288

Non-black/non-Hispanic Females

 1.08082 1.30192
Table 8. Deft factors for round 23, 2008

Demographic Group

 Proportions Means

All Youth

 1.31106 1.83712

Males

 1.25599 1.60468

Females

 1.22474 1.52315

Hispanics or Latinos

 1.13235 1.43353

Blacks

 1.16726 1.38203

Non-black/non-Hispanics

 1.10855 1.56365

Hispanic or Latino Males

 1.14837 1.27083

Hispanic or Latino Females

 1.03870 1.18322

Black Males

 1.14182 1.12916

Black Females

 1.11467 1.34907

Non-black/non-Hispanic Males

 1.09030 1.38564

Non-black/non-Hispanic Females

 1.09829 1.28841
Table 9. Deft factors for round 24, 2010

Demographic Group

 Proportions Means

All Youth

 1.34024 1.80278

Males

 1.26293 1.58745

Females

 1.23288 1.48829

Hispanics or Latinos

 1.19284 1.46116

Blacks

 1.21295 1.36015

Non-black/non-Hispanics

 1.12639 1.54434

Hispanic or Latino Males

 1.19284 1.28452

Hispanic or Latino Females

 1.11867 1.20208

Black Males

 1.16458 1.10905

Black Females

 1.13137 1.34907

Non-black/non-Hispanic Males

 1.07877 1.37659

Non-black/non-Hispanic Females

 1.03983 1.26886
Table 10. Deft factors for round 25, 2012

Demographic Group

 Proportions Means

All Youth

 1.34604 1.77682

Males

 1.26681 1.55921

Females

 1.24255 1.48757

Hispanics or Latinos

 1.21171 1.46095

Blacks

 1.19992 1.35592

Non-black/non-Hispanics

 1.17951 1.52438

Hispanic or Latino Males

 1.16338 1.24213

Hispanic or Latino Females

 1.05880 1.20750

Black Males

 1.11229 1.16998

Black Females

 1.15019 1.32479

Non-black/non-Hispanic Males

 1.14991 1.36160

Non-black/non-Hispanic Females

 1.12411 1.25952
Table 11. Deft factors for round 26, 2014

Demographic Group

 Proportions Means

All Youth

 1.33370 1.77496

Males

 1.25238 1.56764

Females

 1.19779 1.50041

Hispanics or Latinos

 1.15607 1.41956

Blacks

 1.13520 1.38628

Non-black/non-Hispanics

 1.18624 1.50758

Hispanic or Latino Males

 1.15649 1.25180

Hispanic or Latino Females

 1.06414 1.20324

Black Males

 1.12620 1.19193

Black Females

 1.00051 1.34394

Non-black/non-Hispanic Males

 1.15447 1.35138

Non-black/non-Hispanic Females

 1.18466 1.26346
Table 12. Deft factors for round 27, 2016

Demographic Group

 Proportions Means

All Youth

 1.40369 1.73651

Males

 1.36746 1.53267

Females

 1.23931 1.47176

Hispanics or Latinos

 1.28005 1.44627

Blacks

 1.10852 1.34987

Non-black/non-Hispanics

 1.26546 1.47732

Hispanic or Latino Males

 1.19194 1.22472

Hispanic or Latino Females

 1.16081 1.23085

Black Males

 1.10918 1.15997

Black Females

 1.04381 1.30468

Non-black/non-Hispanic Males

 1.21767 1.32061

Non-black/non-Hispanic Females

 1.17469 1.24867
Table 13. Deft factors for round 28, 2018

Demographic Group

 Proportions Means

All Youth

 1.36769 1.72280

Males

 1.29963 1.57090

Females

 1.18347 1.46229

Hispanics or Latinos

 1.23085 1.43839

Blacks

 1.06561 1.30877

Non-black/non-Hispanics

 1.21787 1.46098

Hispanic or Latino Males

 1.12575 1.25443

Hispanic or Latino Females

 1.10262 1.19304

Black Males

 1.05849 1.15098

Black Females

 0.97723 1.31684

Non-black/non-Hispanic Males

 1.12186 1.35481

Non-black/non-Hispanic Females

 1.11219 1.22446
Table 14. Deft factors for round 29, 2020

Demographic Group

 Proportions Means

All Youth

 1.36387 1.72145

Males

 1.35466 1.56630

Females

 1.12285 1.12285

Hispanics or Latinos

 1.15142 1.15142

Blacks

 1.05324 1.28861

Non-black/non-Hispanics

 1.22780 1.45744

Hispanic or Latino Males

 1.00312 1.22750

Hispanic or Latino Females

 1.02489 1.21003

Black Males

 0.95852 1.09251

Black Females

 0.96780 1.34382

Non-black/non-Hispanic Males

 1.16393 1.36001

Non-black/non-Hispanic Females

 1.06213
1.19797

Scroll right to view additional table columns.

Table 15. Standard errors for round 1, 1979
  All Male Female Hispanic or Latino Black Non-black, non-Hispanic Male Hispanic or Latino Female Hispanic or Latino Male Black Female Black Male Non-black, non-Hispanic Female Non-black, non-Hispanic

Proportion High School Dropouts

 0.00471 0.00627 0.00545 0.01385 0.00835 0.00527 0.01744 0.01814 0.01232 0.00928 0.00710 0.00619

Proportion Attending High School

 0.00735 0.00893 0.01006 0.01554 0.01151 0.00904 0.02176 0.02146 0.01460 0.01628 0.01085 0.01233

Proportion Attending College

 0.00597 0.00729 0.00778 0.01037 0.00784 0.00710 0.01230 0.01460 0.00919 0.01119 0.00862 0.00947

Proportion High School Grad

 0.00658 0.00776 0.00905 0.01277 0.01033 0.00785 0.01440 0.01957 0.01217 0.01448 0.00926 0.01094

Mean Years of School Completed

 0.02900 0.04000 0.03800 0.08200 0.05700 0.03400 0.10000 0.10500 0.06100 0.07400 0.04600 0.04400

Mean Years of School Expected

 0.04600 0.05900 0.04700 0.10800 0.06400 0.05500 0.12500 0.11700 0.07900 0.07900 0.07100 0.05500

Proportion Living in South

 0.02286 0.02353 0.02324 0.05641 0.04264 0.02544 0.04973 0.06060 0.04555 0.04084 0.02610 0.02601

Mean Numbers of Children Expected

 0.02400 0.02700 0.03200 0.05800 0.04600 0.02800 0.06500 0.07000 0.05600 0.05500 0.03100 0.03700

Proportion Married

 0.00454 0.00365 0.00686 0.01023 0.00533 0.00570 0.00923 0.01646 0.00440 0.00884 0.00448 0.00855
Table 16. Standard errors for round 17, 1996
  All Male Female Hispanic or Latino Black Non-black, non-Hispanic Male Hispanic or Latino Female Hispanic or Latino Male Black Female Black Male Non-black, non-Hispanic Female Non-black, non-Hispanic

Proportion Not on Active Duty

 0.001 0.003 0.001 0.005 0.004 0.002 0.009 0.001 0.007 0.003 0.003 0.001

Proportion High School Dropouts

 0.006 0.008 0.006 0.014 0.009 0.007 0.018 0.016 0.012 0.010 0.009 0.007

Proportion in High School or Less

 0.000 0.001 0.001 0.002 0.001 0.001 0.002 0.002 0.001 0.002 0.001 0.000

Proportion Attending College

 0.003 0.003 0.005 0.006 0.005 0.004 0.008 0.009 0.005 0.007 0.004 0.005

Proportion High School Grad

 0.006 0.007 0.006 0.015 0.009 0.007 0.018 0.016 0.012 0.010 0.009 0.007

Proportion Living in South

 0.034 0.034 0.036 0.052 0.046 0.039 0.049 0.059 0.046 0.048 0.038 0.041

Proportion Currently Married

 0.007 0.010 0.010 0.016 0.013 0.008 0.020 0.021 0.018 0.017 0.011 0.011

Proportion Employed at Present

 0.006 0.007 0.009 0.015 0.009 0.007 0.017 0.020 0.014 0.013 0.007 0.010

Proportion Unemployed

 0.002 0.003 0.003 0.006 0.005 0.003 0.007 0.009 0.008 0.008 0.004 0.004

Proportion in Labor Force

 0.005 0.005 0.008 0.013 0.008 0.006 0.015 0.018 0.012 0.012 0.006 0.010

Proportion Gov't Training

 0.001 0.001 0.001 0.003 0.002 0.001 0.003 0.003 0.002 0.004 0.001 0.001

Average Number of Children

 0.023 0.027 0.030 0.054 0.035 0.028 0.067 0.065 0.040 0.050 0.033 0.036

Average Highest Grade Completed

 0.060 0.074 0.063 0.109 0.065 0.073 0.137 0.119 0.074 0.081 0.091 0.077

Proportion Currently Enrolled

 0.003 0.004 0.005 0.006 0.005 0.004 0.008 0.008 0.005 0.007 0.004 0.006
Table 17. Standard errors for round 18, 1998
  All Male Female Hispanic or Latino Black Non-black, non-Hispanic Male Hispanic or Latino Female Hispanic or Latino Male Black Female Black Male Non-black, non-Hispanic Female Non-black, non-Hispanic

Proportion Not on Active Duty

 0.001 0.003 0.001 0.005 0.003 0.002 0.008 0.002 0.006 0.003 0.003 0.001

Proportion High School Dropouts

 0.005 0.007 0.006 0.014 0.009 0.006 0.017 0.016 0.012 0.010 0.009 0.007

Proportion in High School or Less

 0.000 0.000 0.001 0.000 0.001 0.000 0.000 0.001 0.001 0.001 0.000 0.001

Proportion Attending College

 0.003 0.003 0.005 0.005 0.005 0.003 0.005 0.008 0.005 0.007 0.004 0.005

Proportion High School Grad

 0.005 0.007 0.006 0.014 0.009 0.006 0.017 0.016 0.012 0.010 0.009 0.007

Proportion Living in South

 0.035 0.034 0.037 0.051 0.045 0.039 0.047 0.058 0.044 0.047 0.039 0.041

Proportion Currently Married

 0.008 0.010 0.011 0.015 0.012 0.008 0.021 0.021 0.018 0.016 0.011 0.010

Proportion Employed at Present

 0.006 0.007 0.009 0.014 0.009 0.007 0.017 0.020 0.012 0.014 0.008 0.011

Proportion Unemployed

 0.002 0.003 0.003 0.005 0.005 0.002 0.007 0.008 0.007 0.007 0.003 0.003

Proportion in Labor Force

 0.005 0.006 0.009 0.013 0.008 0.006 0.016 0.019 0.011 0.011 0.006 0.011

Proportion Gov't Training

 0.001 0.001 0.001 0.002 0.002 0.001 0.003 0.004 0.003 0.004 0.001 0.001

Average Number of Children

 0.024 0.028 0.030 0.050 0.036 0.028 0.061 0.065 0.042 0.050 0.033 0.035

Average Highest Grade Completed

 0.061 0.077 0.063 0.114 0.066 0.073 0.147 0.121 0.074 0.082 0.09. 0.074

Proportion Currently Enrolled

 0.003 0.003 0.004 0.005 0.005 0.003 0.005 0.008 0.005 0.007 0.004 0.005
Table 18. Standard errors for round 19, 2000
  All Male Female Hispanic or Latino Black Non-black, non-Hispanic Male Hispanic or Latino Female Hispanic or Latino Male Black Female Black Male Non-black, non-Hispanic Female Non-black, non-Hispanic

Proportion Not on Active Duty

 0.001 0.002 0.000 0.003 0.003 0.001 0.006 0.001 0.005 0.002 0.003 0.000

Proportion High School Dropouts

 0.005 0.007 0.006 0.014 0.009 0.006 0.017 0.015 0.013 0.010 0.009 0.006

Proportion in High School or Less

 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.001 0.001 0.000 0.001 0.002 0.002 0.000 0.000 0.000

Proportion Attending College

 0.003 0.003 0.004 0.006 0.004 0.003 0.008 0.009 0.004 0.007 0.003 0.005

Proportion High School Grad

 0.005 0.007 0.006 0.014 0.009 0.006 0.017 0.015 0.013 0.010 0.009 0.006

Proportion Living in South

 0.035 0.034 0.037 0.052 0.043 0.039 0.049 0.059 0.044 0.046 0.038 0.041

Proportion Currently Married

 0.008 0.010 0.010 0.014 0.012 0.008 0.022 0.021 0.018 0.015 0.011 0.010

Proportion Employed at Present

 0.006 0.006 0.009 0.012 0.009 0.007 0.014 0.018 0.014 0.012 0.007 0.010

Proportion Gov't Training

 0.001 0.001 0.001 0.003 0.002 0.001 0.003 0.004 0.003 0.003 0.001 0.001

Average Number of Children

 0.024 0.029 0.030 0.048 0.037 0.027 0.061 0.064 0.046 0.051 0.034 0.035

Average Highest Grade Completed

 0.061 0.076 0.065 0.114 0.069 0.074 0.146 0.118 0.078 0.089 0.092 0.078

Proportion Currently Enrolled

 0.003 0.003 0.004 0.006 0.004 0.003 0.008 0.009 0.005 0.007 0.003 0.005

Table 18 note: Users are cautioned that by round 17 cohort changes have made some categories much less relevant. In particular, the extremely small subsample sizes for "Proportion government training participant" and "Proportion in high school or less" make these categories statistically suspect. They have been kept in the table for historical continuity.

Table 19. Standard errors for round 20, 2002
  All Male Female Hispanic or Latino Black Non-black, non-Hispanic Male Hispanic or Latino Female Hispanic or Latino Male Black Female Black Male Non-black, non-Hispanic Female Non-black, non-Hispanic

Proportion Not on Active Duty

 0.001 0.002 0.000 0.002 0.002 0.001 0.004 0.000 0.004 0.002 0.003 0.000

Proportion High School Dropouts

 0.005 0.007 0.005 0.015 0.008 0.006 0.018 0.016 0.011 0.010 0.009 0.006

Proportion in High School or Less

 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.001 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.001 0.001 0.001 0.000

Proportion Attending College

 0.002 0.003 0.004 0.004 0.004 0.002 0.005 0.006 0.005 0.006 0.003 0.004

Proportion High School Grad

 0.005 0.007 0.005 0.015 0.008 0.006 0.018 0.016 0.011 0.010 0.009 0.006

Proportion Living in South

 0.035 0.034 0.036 0.053 0.042 0.039 0.050 0.060 0.043 0.045 0.039 0.041

Proportion Currently Married

 0.009 0.010 0.011 0.015 0.013 0.009 0.023 0.022 0.018 0.015 0.011 0.012

Proportion Employed at Present

 0.007 0.007 0.009 0.012 0.011 0.008 0.016 0.015 0.016 0.014 0.008 0.011

Proportion Gov't Training

 0.002 0.002 0.002 0.004 0.004 0.002 0.006 0.006 0.006 0.006 0.002 0.002

Average Number of Children

 0.023 0.028 0.028 0.051 0.037 0.026 0.062 0.067 0.048 0.053 0.034 0.034

Average Highest Grade Completed

 0.061 0.077 0.065 0.120 0.066 0.074 0.150 0.125 0.073 0.091 0.094 0.078

Proportion Currently Enrolled

 0.002 0.003 0.003 0.004 0.004 0.002 0.005 0.006 0.005 0.006 0.003 0.004

Table 19 note: Users are cautioned that by round 17 cohort changes have made some categories much less relevant. In particular, the extremely small sample sizes for "Proportion government training participant" and "Proportion in high school or less: make these categories statistically suspect. They have been kept in the table for historical continuity.

Table 20. Standard errors for round 21, 2004
  All Male Female Hispanic or Latino Black Non-black, non-Hispanic Male Hispanic or Latino Female Hispanic or Latino Male Black Female Black Male Non-black, non-Hispanic Female Non-black, non-Hispanic

Proportion Not on Active Duty

 0.001 0.002 0.000 0.002 0.002 0.001 0.004 0.001 0.003 0.002 0.002 0.000

Proportion High School Dropouts

 0.005 0.007 0.005 0.014 0.009 0.006 0.019 0.015 0.013 0.010 0.009 0.006

Proportion in High School or Less

 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

Proportion Attending College

 0.002 0.002 0.003 0.006 0.003 0.003 0.006 0.009 0.004 0.006 0.002 0.004

Proportion High School Grad

 0.005 0.007 0.005 0.014 0.009 0.006 0.019 0.015 0.012 0.010 0.009 0.006

Proportion Living in South

 0.034 0.034 0.036 0.053 0.044 0.039 0.051 0.059 0.044 0.045 0.039 0.041

Proportion Currently Married

 0.008 0.010 0.011 0.014 0.012 0.008 0.021 0.020 0.018 0.014 0.010 0.012

Proportion Employed at Present

 0.007 0.007 0.010 0.014 0.009 0.008 0.018 0.018 0.012 0.013 0.008 0.012

Proportion Gov't Training

 0.001 0.002 0.002 0.003 0.003 0.001 0.003 0.006 0.004 0.003 0.002 0.002

Average Number of Children

 0.024 0.029 0.031 0.053 0.037 0.028 0.069 0.065 0.049 0.051 0.035 0.036

Average Highest Grade Completed

 0.061 0.076 0.065 0.115 0.069 0.074 0.149 0.119 0.074 0.096 0.093 0.077

Proportion Currently Enrolled

 0.002 0.002 0.003 0.006 0.003 0.003 0.006 0.009 0.004 0.006 0.002 0.004

Table 20 note: Users are cautioned that cohort changes over time have made some categories much less relevant. In particular, the extremely small sample sizes for education related variables such as "Proportion in high school or less," "Proportion government training participant," "Proportion currently enrolled," and "Proportion attending college" make these categories statistically suspect. They have been kept in the table for historical continuity.

Table 21. Standard errors for round 22, 2006
  All Male Female Hispanic or Latino Black Non-black, non-Hispanic Male Hispanic or Latino Female Hispanic or Latino Male Black Female Black Male Non-black, non-Hispanic Female Non-black, non-Hispanic

Proportion Not on Active Duty

 0.001 0.001 0.000 0.001 0.001 0.001 0.002 0.001 0.003 0.001 0.002 0.000

Proportion High School Dropouts

 0.005 0.007 0.005 0.014 0.008 0.005 0.018 0.016 0.012 0.009 0.008 0.006

Proportion in High School or Less

 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

Proportion Attending College

 0.002 0.002 0.003 0.003 0.004 0.002 0.003 0.005 0.005 0.006 0.002 0.004

Proportion High School Grad

 0.005 0.007 0.005 0.014 0.008 0.005 0.018 0.016 0.012 0.009 0.008 0.006

Proportion Living in South

 0.034 0.034 0.036 0.052 0.043 0.039 0.048 0.059 0.043 0.046 0.039 0.041

Proportion Currently Married

 0.009 0.010 0.012 0.014 0.012 0.009 0.022 0.018 0.016 0.015 0.011 0.012

Proportion Employed at Present

 0.007 0.007 0.010 0.014 0.010 0.008 0.020 0.017 0.014 0.015 0.008 0.012

Proportion Gov't Training

 0.001 0.002 0.002 0.002 0.003 0.001 0.002 0.004 0.004 0.005 0.002 0.002

Average Number of Children

 0.023 0.029 0.030 0.055 0.037 0.027 0.069 0.068 0.048 0.052 0.034 0.035

Average Highest Grade Completed

 0.061 0.076 0.065 0.114 0.067 0.074 0.145 0.126 0.072 0.096 0.093 0.078

Proportion Currently Enrolled

 0.002 0.002 0.003 0.003 0.004 0.002 0.003 0.005 0.005 0.006 0.002 0.004

Table 21 note: Users are cautioned that cohort changes over time have made some categories much less relevant. In particular, the extremely small sample sizes for education related variables such as "Proportion in high school or less," "Proportion government training participant," "Proportion currently enrolled," and "Proportion attending college" make these categories statistically suspect. They have been kept in the table for historical continuity.

Table 22. Standard errors for round 23, 2008
  All Male Female Hispanic or Latino Black Non-black, non-Hispanic Male Hispanic or Latino Female Hispanic or Latino Male Black Female Black Male Non-black, non-Hispanic Female Non-black, non-Hispanic

Proportion Not on Active Duty

 0.001 0.001 0.000 0.001 0.001 0.001 0.001 0.001 0.002 0.001 0.001 0.000

Proportion High School Dropouts

 0.005 0.007 0.005 0.013 0.008 0.005 0.018 0.015 0.011 0.009 0.008 0.006

Proportion in High School or Less

 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.001 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.002 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.001

Proportion Attending College

 0.002 0.002 0.003 0.004 0.003 0.002 0.005 0.005 0.005 0.006 0.002 0.004

Proportion High School Grad

 0.005 0.007 0.005 0.013 0.008 0.005 0.018 0.015 0.011 0.009 0.008 0.006

Proportion Living in South

 0.032 0.031 0.034 0.050 0.043 0.035 0.046 0.058 0.042 0.046 0.034 0.038

Proportion Currently Married

 0.009 0.010 0.011 0.015 0.012 0.008 0.022 0.020 0.017 0.015 0.011 0.012

Proportion Employed at Present

 0.008 0.010 0.013 0.011 0.008 0.018 0.017 0.015 0.014 0.008 0.012

Proportion Gov't Training

 0.001 0.002 0.002 0.002 0.003 0.001 0.003 0.004 0.003 0.004 0.002 0.002

Average Number of Children

 0.023 0.030 0.030 0.054 0.038 0.027 0.068 0.067 0.049 0.052 0.036 0.035

Average Highest Grade Completed

 0.062 0.078 0.066 0.109 0.070 0.075 0.141 0.117 0.076 0.094 0.096 0.079

Proportion Currently Enrolled

 0.002 0.002 0.003 0.004 0.004 0.002 0.006 0.006 0.005 0.007 0.002 0.004

Table 22 note: Users are cautioned that cohort changes over time have made some categories much less relevant. In particular, the extremely small sample sizes for education related variables such as "Proportion in high school or less," "Proportion government training participant," "Proportion currently enrolled," and "Proportion attending college" make these categories statistically suspect. They have been kept in the table for historical continuity.

Table 23. Standard errors for round 24, 2010
  All Male Female Hispanic or Latino Black Non-black, non-Hispanic Male Hispanic or Latino Female Hispanic or Latino Male Black Female Black Male Non-black, non-Hispanic Female Non-black, non-Hispanic

Proportion Not on Active Duty

 0.000 0.001 0.000 0.000 0.001 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.002 0.001 0.001 0.000

Proportion High School Dropouts

 0.005 0.007 0.005 0.013 0.008 0.005 0.019 0.015 0.011 0.009 0.008 0.006

Proportion in High School or Less

 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

Proportion Attending College

 0.002 0.002 0.003 0.003 0.004 0.002 0.005 0.004 0.004 0.007 0.002 0.003

Proportion High School Grad

 0.005 0.007 0.005 0.013 0.008 0.005 0.019 0.015 0.011 0.009 0.008 0.006

Proportion Living in South

 0.034 0.033 0.037 0.051 0.042 0.039 0.047 0.058 0.042 0.044 0.038 0.041

Proportion Currently Married

 0.009 0.010 0.011 0.016 0.012 0.008 0.021 0.023 0.017 0.016 0.010 0.012

Proportion Employed at Present

 0.008 0.009 0.011 0.014 0.011 0.009 0.019 0.020 0.017 0.014 0.011 0.013

Proportion Gov't Training

 0.001 0.002 0.002 0.003 0.003 0.002 0.004 0.005 0.004 0.004 0.002 0.002

Average Number of Children

 0.024 0.030 0.030 0.057 0.037 0.027 0.072 0.068 0.049 0.053 0.036 0.035

Average Highest Grade Completed

 0.062 0.079 0.064 0.112 0.072 0.075 0.140 0.125 0.077 0.098 0.096 0.077

Proportion Currently Enrolled

 0.002 0.002 0.003 0.003 0.004 0.002 0.005 0.004 0.004 0.007 0.002 0.004

Table 23 note: Users are cautioned that cohort changes over time have made some categories much less relevant. In particular, the extremely small sample sizes for education related variables such as "Proportion in high school or less," "Proportion government training participant," "Proportion currently enrolled," and "Proportion attending college" make these categories statistically suspect. They have been kept in the table for historical continuity.

Table 24. Standard errors for round 25, 2012
  All Male Female Hispanic or Latino Black Non-black, non-Hispanic Male Hispanic or Latino Female Hispanic or Latino Male Black Female Black Male Non-black, non-Hispanic Female Non-black, non-Hispanic

Proportion Not on Active Duty

 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.001 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.001 0.000 0.000

Proportion High School Dropouts

 0.007 0.005 0.014 0.009 0.005 0.020 0.015 0.012 0.009 0.009 0.006

Proportion in High School or Less

 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

Proportion Attending College

 0.002 0.003 0.003 0.004 0.005 0.003 0.003 0.007 0.004 0.008 0.004 0.004

Proportion High School Grad

 0.005 0.007 0.005 0.014 0.008 0.006 0.020 0.015 0.012 0.008 0.008 0.006

Proportion Living in South

 0.034 0.034 0.036 0.055 0.043 0.039 0.055 0.064 0.044 0.046 0.039 0.041

Proportion Currently Married

 0.009 0.011 0.011 0.016 0.012 0.009 0.022 0.022 0.016 0.015 0.012 0.012

Proportion Employed at Present

 0.008 0.010 0.011 0.015 0.011 0.009 0.020 0.018 0.016 0.015 0.010 0.013

Proportion Gov't Training

 0.001 0.002 0.002 0.004 0.003 0.001 0.004 0.005 0.004 0.005 0.002 0.002

Average Number of Children

 0.024 0.030 0.031 0.058 0.038 0.027 0.068 0.069 0.053 0.052 0.036 0.036

Average Highest Grade Completed

 0.062 0.080 0.065 0.114 0.073 0.076 0.139 0.126 0.084 0.098 0.098 0.078

Proportion Currently Enrolled

 0.002 0.003 0.004 0.004 0.005 0.003 0.003 0.007 0.004 0.008 0.004 0.004

Table 24 note: Users are cautioned that cohort changes over time have made some categories much less relevant. In particular, the extremely small subsample sizes for education related variables such as "Proportion government training participant," "Proportion currently enrolled" and "Proportion attending college" make these categories statistically suspect. They have been kept in the table for historical continuity. In round 25 the variable "Proportion in high school or less" was labeled "NA" since no NLSY79 respondent was in this category.

Table 25. Standard errors for round 26, 2014
  All Male Female Hispanic or Latino Black Non-black, non-Hispanic Male Hispanic or Latino Female Hispanic or Latino Male Black Female Black Male Non-black, non-Hispanic Female Non-black, non-Hispanic

Proportion High School Dropouts

 0.005 0.007 0.006 0.014 0.009 0.006 0.021 0.016 0.012 0.010 0.009 0.007

Proportion Attending College

 0.002 0.003 0.002 0.004 0.005 0.004 0.005 0.008 0.003 0.007 0.003 0.004

Proportion High School Grad

 0.005 0.007 0.005 0.013 0.008 0.005 0.020 0.014 0.012 0.008 0.008 0.006

Proportion Living in South

 0.034 0.033 0.036 0.056 0.042 0.038 0.059 0.061 0.044 0.046 0.038 0.041

Proportion Currently Married

 0.009 0.011 0.012 0.016 0.012 0.009 0.022 0.021 0.017 0.016 0.012 0.012

Proportion Employed at Present

 0.009 0.011 0.011 0.014 0.010 0.010 0.021 0.019 0.015 0.013 0.012 0.013

Proportion Gov't Training

 0.001 0.001 0.002 0.002 0.003 0.001 0.003 0.003 0.004 0.003 0.001 0.002

Average Number of Children

 0.024 0.029 0.032 0.055 0.039 0.027 0.066 0.070 0.054 0.054 0.035 0.037

Average Highest Grade Completed

 0.064 0.084 0.067 0.114 0.077 0.078 0.145 0.129 0.088 0.100 0.102 0.080

Proportion Currently Enrolled

 0.002 0.002 0.004 0.005 0.004 0.003 0.005 0.008 0.003 0.007 0.003 0.004

Table 25 note: Users are cautioned that cohort changes over time have made some categories much less relevant. In particular, the extremely small subsample sizes for education related variables such as "Proportion government training participant," "Proportion currently enrolled" and "Proportion attending college" make these categories statistically suspect. They have been kept in the table for historical continuity. In round 25, the variable "Proportion in high school or less" was removed from the table since no NLSY79 respondent was in this category. In round 26, the variable "Proportion not on active duty" was removed from the table since no NLSY79 respondent remained in this category.

Table 26. Standard errors for round 27, 2016
  All Male Female Hispanic or Latino Black Non-black, non-Hispanic Male Hispanic or Latino Female Hispanic or Latino Male Black Female Black Male Non-black, non-Hispanic Female Non-black, non-Hispanic

Proportion High School Dropouts

 0.0048 0.007 0.005 0.014 0.008 0.006 0.018 0.018 0.012 0.009 0.008 0.006

Proportion Attending College

 0.0022 0.003 0.003 0.004 0.003 0.003 0.002 0.009 0.002 0.006 0.003 0.004

Proportion High School Grads

 0.0046 0.007 0.005 0.013 0.008 0.005 0.018 0.015 0.012 0.008 0.008 0.006

Proportion Living in South

 0.0337 0.033 0.036 0.058 0.041 0.038 0.061 0.063 0.042 0.045 0.038 0.040

Proportion Currently Married

 0.0093 0.011 0.011 0.016 0.012 0.009 0.023 0.021 0.017 0.016 0.012 0.011

Proportion Employed at Present

 0.0084 0.010 0.011 0.015 0.011 0.009 0.023 0.018 0.016 0.015 0.011 0.013

Proportion Gov't Training

 0.0012 0.001 0.001 0.004 0.002 0.001 0.007 0.004 0.004 0.004 0.002 0.002

Average Number of Children

 0.0239 0.031 0.031 0.059 0.039 0.028 0.070 0.073 0.054 0.051 0.036 0.037

Average Highest Grade Completed

 0.0624 0.080 0.067 0.118 0.075 0.076 0.142 0.134 0.085 0.103 0.098 0.080

Proportion Currently Enrolled

 0.0022 0.003 0.003 0.004 0.003 0.003 0.002 0.009 0.003 0.006 0.003 0.004

Table 26 note: Users are cautioned that cohort changes over time have made some categories much less relevant. In particular, the extremely small subsample sizes for education related variables such as "Proportion government training participant," "Proportion currently enrolled" and "Proportion attending college" make these categories statistically suspect. They have been kept in the table for historical continuity. In round 25 the variable "Proportion in high school or less" was removed from the table since no NLSY79 respondent was in this category. In round 26 the variable "Proportion not on active duty" was removed from the table since no NLSY79 respondent remained in this category.

Table 27. Standard errors for round 28, 2018
  All Male Female Hispanic or Latino Black Non-black, non-Hispanic Male Hispanic or Latino Female Hispanic or Latino Male Black Female Black Male Non-black, non-Hispanic Female Non-black, non-Hispanic

Proportion High School Dropouts

 0.0047 0.007 0.005 0.014 0.008 0.005 0.019 0.016 0.012 0.008 0.008 0.006

Proportion Attending College

 0.0010 0.001 0.002 0.002 0.002 0.001 0.004 0.003 0.000 0.004 0.002 0.002

Proportion High School Grad

 0.0047 0.007 0.005 0.014 0.008 0.005 0.019 0.015 0.012 0.008 0.008 0.006

Proportion Living in South

 0.0334 0.033 0.036 0.058 0.042 0.038 0.060 0.063 0.043 0.045 0.038 0.041

Proportion Currently Married

 0.0094 0.011 0.011 0.017 0.012 0.009 0.025 0.019 0.016 0.016 0.012 0.012

Proportion Employed at Present

 0.0086 0.010 0.012 0.016 0.012 0.010 0.020 0.022 0.017 0.016 0.011 0.014

Proportion Gov't Training

 0.0008 0.009 0.001 0.002 0.002 0.001 0.000 0.003 0.003 0.003 0.001 0.001

Average Number of Children

 0.0248 0.033 0.032 0.057 0.038 0.029 0.067 0.070 0.054 0.053 0.039 0.037

Average Highest Grade Completed

 0.0610 0.081 0.066 0.117 0.074 0.074 0.151 0.126 0.084 0.105 0.100 0.078

Proportion Currently Enrolled

 0.0011 0.001 0.002 0.003 0.002 0.001 0.004 0.004 0.000 0.004 0.002 0.002

Table 27 note: Users are cautioned that cohort changes over time have made some categories much less relevant. In particular, the extremely small subsample sizes for education related variables such as "Proportion government training participant," "Proportion currently enrolled" and "Proportion attending college" make these categories statistically suspect. They have been kept in the table for historical continuity. In round 25 the variable "Proportion in high school or less" was removed from the table since no NLSY79 respondent was in this category. In round 26 the variable "Proportion not on active duty" was removed from the table since no NLSY79 respondent remained in this category. Beginning in round 28, the "Average highest grade completed" was the highest grade completed as of the date of most recent interview, not as of May in the year previous to survey year.

Table 28. Standard errors for round 29, 2020
  All Male Female Hispanic or Latino Black Non-black, non-Hispanic Male Hispanic or Latino Female Hispanic or Latino Male Black Female Black Male Non-black, non-Hispanic Female Non-black, non-Hispanic

Proportion High School Dropouts

 0.0048 0.007 0.005 0.014 0.008 0.006 0.019 0.015 0.012 0.008 0.000 0.006

Proportion Attending College

 0.0007 0.001 0.001 0.001 0.001 0.001 0.000 0.001 0.000 0.003 0.001 0.001

Proportion High School Grad

 0.0048 0.007 0.005 0.014 0.008 0.006 0.019 0.015 0.012 0.008 0.009 0.006

Proportion Living in South

 0.0332 0.034 0.035 0.058 0.042 0.038 0.062 0.062 0.044 0.044 0.039 0.040

Proportion Currently Married

 0.0100 0.012 0.012 0.017 0.012 0.010 0.025 0.020 0.017 0.016 0.013 0.012

Proportion Employed at Present

 0.0092 0.013 0.012 0.015 0.013 0.011 0.020 0.023 0.018 0.017 0.015 0.014

Proportion Gov't Training

 0.0008 0.001 0.001 0.003 0.002 0.001 0.005 0.003 0.003 0.002 0.001 0.001

Average Number of Children

 0.0250 0.034 0.032 0.055 0.039 0.029 0.068 0.071 0.055 0.057 0.040 0.037

Average Highest Grade Completed

 0.0630 0.085 0.065 0.121 0.075 0.076 0.155 0.130 0.082 0.108 0.103 0.076

Proportion Currently Enrolled

 0.0008 0.001 0.001 0.001 0.001 0.001 0.000 0.001 0.000 0.003 0.001 0.001

Table 28 note: Users are cautioned that cohort changes over time have made some categories much less relevant. In particular, the extremely small subsample sizes for education related variables such as "Proportion government training participant," "Proportion currently enrolled" and "Proportion attending college" make these categories statistically suspect. They have been kept in the table for historical continuity. In round 25 the variable "Proportion in high school or less" was removed from the table since no NLSY79 respondent was in this category. In round 26 the variable "Proportion not on active duty" was removed from the table since no NLSY79 respondent remained in this category. Beginning in round 28, the "Average highest grade completed" was the highest grade completed as of the date of most recent interview, not as of May in the year previous to survey year.